Lubricator



R. W. MILLER LUBRICATOR June 9, 1936. 2,043,764

2 SheetS'-Sheet 1 .Filed Oct. 8, 1935 gmc/who@ June 9, l1936. l' R. w. MILLER 2,043,764

' LUBRICATOR Filed Oct. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 33543 @www/QV l mow/Ma Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATESA eATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to devices for supplying oil to journals of railway cars and has as an object the provision of a device of this character for ready insertion into a journal box.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character constructed with the minimum'amount of felt, or form-retaining absorbent material.

It is a further object of the invention to pro-- vide a device which is applicable to more than one size of journal and having means to press the journal-engaging portions against the journal.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and whereinz- Figure 1 is a central vertical Vsection lon line I-I of Figure 2;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section Von line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a tilt-preventing structure;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of one of the elements of the lubricator of Figs. 1` and 2, showing the felt in dot and'dashlinesand bowed spring and the securing means in full lines; Y

Fig. 5 isa detail vertical transverse'section through one of the lubricator elements;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a rigid element utilized in the structure of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. '7 is a section of a journal box corresponding to Fig. 1 with side elevation of a different form of invention in the process of installation;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the elements of Fig. 7 showing the connecting devices for the elements of Fig. 7 in section; and

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective of a portion of a flexible hose utilized in the structure of Fig. '7.

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of a form of the lubricating element diiierent from that of Fig. 1.

The structure of the present invention is a carrying-forward of the ideas disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,013,357,dated September 3, 1935.

As shown in Figures 1 to inclusive the lubricator is shown as applied tof a journal VIll in the journal box I I provided with the brass I2 and the wedge I3, the journal box being provided with the usual cover I4.

To more readily install the elements of the lubricator of the present invention, a rod I5 having a T-end I5, as shown in Figs. 1 and'S, is first inserted into the box carrying the bowed rod Il for a purpose similar to the rod I9 of my former patent above referred to, the rod being shown as formed with an eye I8 at its central portion to engage the shank of the rod I5, the rod I5 being shown as rectangular in cross section.

'I'he lubricator elements which in the present instance are desirably made substantially three times as thick as those indicated in my former patent are shown as formed with a relatively narrow journal engaging portion comprising arms I9, 20 joining at a central body 2|, which body is formed with a recess 22 to receive a rigid element 23.

'Ihe rigid element 23 shown in section in Fig. 5 and in a plan view in Fig. 6, is desirably formed with `upper and side surfaces formed with ribs 24. 'Ihe element 23 is shown as secured to the body 2I at the sides of the recess 22 by means of ties 25 which pass through openings in the body 2| and about the rigid element 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Y

In addition pins 26 are shown in Fig. 5 which penetrate the felt at the sides of the element 23 to assist in holding the parts in assembly.

Since the lubricating elements must be placed upon the rod I5 and tilt thereon during the process of their` installation, the opening in the'rigid body 23 is preferably of a venturi form, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 6.

To hold the arms I9, 2U of the lubricating elements in contact with the journal, spring Wires 21, 28 are shown as placed upon the outside of each element and fastened thereto by loops of wire 40 extending through the felt and about the wire springs.

The natural shape of the springs is such as to close the arms together further than the diameter of the journal will permit their closing when in use, after the manner indicated in Fig. 8 for another form of the invention. Therefore when the arms are spread and placed in contact with the journal in assembly in the box, the springs 2'! will preserve contact between the arms of the lubricator and the journal, and also the use of said springs enables one size of lubricator to be used upon a variety of sizes of journals since it is not necessary that the t of the lubricator against the journal be mechanically accurate.

To press the lubricator upwardly into contact with the journal, coil springs 29 are shown as secured to the lower side of certain of the rigid elements, it being unnecessary that each rigid element shall be supplied with a spring but such practice may be followed if preferred. When only some of the elements are provided with springs the intervening elements will be pressed upwardly by their support upon the rod I5. The springs 29 are desirably as shown, made of generally conical form with extending bases resting upon the bottom of the journal box.

To conduct oil from the bottom of the journal box to the body 2| and arms I9 and 20, there are shown wick legs 3|), 3| integral with the body and of a length to complete the space from the journal to the bottom of the journal box.

It will be seen that the legs 30, 3| and coil springs 29 are quite flexible which is of great assistance in the manipulation of the elements during their insertion into the journal box.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 'I to 9 inclusive, the elements of the lubricator shown at 32 are desirably thinner than those shown in the first form above described and of generally the same configuration, the entire number of elements required for an installation being secured together by means of longitudinal wiresr33, 34.

Through this combined assembly and through an opening 35 in each of the elements, a flexible member 38, which I elect to call a metal hose, is passed, which hose is shown as formed of tightly coiled wire made rectangular in cross section.

In the assembly, as shown in Fig. 7, and between the legs 31 of certain elements thereof, are situated coil springs 29, the upper portions 38 of each of which extend upwardly between certain of the elements 32 and are coiled about the metal hose 36.

The rod I5 is used with this form of the invention and the method of insertion into the journal box is quite clearly illustratedV in Fig. '1, although the flexible legs 31 and springs 29 may be flexed out of their strictly vertical position as shown in Fig. '7 during such insertion.

The bowed springs 21' in this form of the invention may be applied to one side only, if desired, of the thinner elements 32 in exactly the same manner as are the like springs 21 in the form of the invention of Figs. 1 and 2.

In the form of the invention of my former patent .referred to, the side members of the lubricator are held into contact with the journal because of the fact that they ll the entire journal box as illustrated in Fig. 2 of said patent. The form shown in the present invention however requires a considerably smaller amount of felt than that shown in the patent and the pressure against the journal is provided by means of bowed springs 21 or 21.

A serious difficulty with lubricators in cold climates and particularly with use of waste for this purpose has been the freezing of the absorbent material to the journal surface. This results from condensation of water upon the cold surface of the journal which collects between the surface of the journal and the absorbent material and when the train is side tracked for a space of time, the absorbent material freezes to the journal and upon again being put into motion, particles adhere Vto the journal and cut the brasses, thereby causing hot boxes which delay service.

To the end of preventing this diiiiculty, the present invention provides drainage to the surface of the journal, and for this purpose perfora tions 4| are indicated in Figures l'and 2 extending away from the journal contacting surface. Desirably grooves 42, as shown in Figure 1, are provided in the surface of the absorbent material leading to the perforations. In Figures 10 and 11, there is shown a different form of drainage means comprising a ridge 43 extending diagonally from one edge of the concavity of the journal contacting surface to the other edge thereof, the surface of the felt sloping away from the crest of said ridge in both directions.

By virtue of the diagonal direction of the ridge, the entire surface of the journal encompassed by the element 2|' receives lubrication and furthermore, by virtue of this diagonal formation, the crest acts as a wiper to remove any water which may be present upon the surface of the journal.

Since the absorbent elements become initially saturated with oil when placed in the journal box, the water which is drained away from the journal surface is not able to get into the material of the absorbent elements.

As shown in the patent referred to, rigid elements shown as in the form of pins 39, Fig. 5, may be supplied or these elements may be omitted, as desired, and the said pins may be placed not only directly under the journal but in the arms IS, 2D' to any required extent.

The material at present preferred for use as an absorbent is felt cut across the bers. However, elements made of other materials may be used, as for instance woven fabric stitched into multi-layer form and preferably cut across the weave. Therefore where felt is recited in the claims, other substances having form-retaining characteristics are to be understood as being ful mechanical equivalents.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof. Y

I claim:

1. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: an element to be assembled with other similar elements in a journal box and comprising a central felt body; a-pair of arms extending upwardly from and integral with said body; said arms and body shaped to substantially t with and partially surround a journal; and a bowed spring member of normally less radius of curva.- ture than the journal carried by said body and arms to press said arms into contact with the journal.

2. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: an element to be assembled with other similar elements in a journal box and comprising a central felt body; a pair of arms extending upwardly from and integral with said body; said arms and body shaped to substantially t with and partially surround a journal; a bowed spring member of normally less radius of curvature than the journal carried by said body and arms to press said arms into Contact with the journal; and a wick leg extending downwardly from said body to dip into oil in the bottom of a journal boX. Y

3. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: an element to be assembled with other similar elements in a journal box and comprising a central felt body; a pair of arms extending upwardly from and integral With said body; said arms and body shaped to substantially t with and partially surround a journal; a bowed spring member of normally less radius of curvature than the journal carried by said body and arms to press said arms into contact with the journal; a hollow metallic member embedded in said central body to receive an assembly rod and a spring secured to said member to act in compression between said element and the bottom of a journal box to press said element against the journal.

4. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: a plurality of felt elements each comprising a ce'ntral body, a pair of arms extending upwardly from said body and a leg extending downwardly from said body to conductV oil thereto; said body and arms shaped to partially surround and contact with the surface of a journal; a rod to extend parallel with Vand below a journal upon which rod said elements are to be assembled in a journal box; at least some of said elements having a hollow metallic member embedded in its central body and surrounding said rod; spring means to react between the bottom of a journal box and said hollow member to press said body against the journal;` and bowed spring means normally of less radius of curvature than the journal, carried by the body and arms of each of said elements to presssaid arms against the surface of the journal.

5. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: a plurality of felt elements having surfaces shaped to substantially conform tothe surface of a journal; flexible members passing through said elements to hold them in assembly; a rigid member; a flexible metallic hose passing through said assembly to receive said rigid member extending parallel with the journal; and a plurality of coiled springs anchored to said hose to react between the bottom of a journal box and said hose and rigid member to press said assembly against the surface of a journal in said box.

6. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: a form retaining absorbent body shaped to substantially fit a journal surface; a portion of said body, by shape and size adapted to dip into oil in the bottom of a journal box while said surface is pressed against a journal in said box; means to press said body against the journal; said body formed with perforations extending therethrough from the journal contacting surface to permit water to flow from between the journal and absorbent body surfaces.

7. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: a form-retaining body of absorbent material having a concave surface to agree with the surface of a journal to be lubricated; a ridge extending diagonally upon said surface; and means to urge said body toward the journal surface to cause said ridge to press thereagainst; whereby b ody and journal surfaces.

RUDOLPH W. MILLER. 

